Taxonomy and distribution of northeast Pacific species of Laminaria

Abstract

Ten species of Laminaria are recognized for the northeast Pacific: L. groenlandica Rosenv.; L. farlowii Setchell; L. saccharina (L.) Lamour.; L. setchellii Silva; L. dentigera Kjellman; L. longipes Bory; L. sinclairii (Harvey ex Hooker f. et Harvey) Farlow, Anderson et Eaton; L. ephemera Setchell; L. yezoensis Miyabe; and L. complanata (Setchell et Gardner) Setchell. The specific epithet groenlandica is used for those northeast Pacific plants earlier referred to as L. cuneifolia, pending determination of their specific identity. Laminaria personata Setchell and Gardner is suggested to be conspecific with L. yezoensis, L. cordata Dawson is considered conspecific with L. saccharina and L. platymeris De la Pyl. (sensu Setchell and Gardner) is considered conspecific with L. groenlandica. Four forms of L. groenlandica are recognized for the northeast Pacific. These forms are not considered as legitimate taxonomic entities but are distinguished merely to provide a means of facilitating discussion. The known habitat requirements for all 10 species were broadened excepting those of L. complanata and L. sinclairii, and the known distributions of all species, excepting that of L. groenlandica, were extended.